Online Fandoms Remake Political Media Landscape

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Organizations & Institutions

• Wired Magazine - Mentioned as "the bible of sorts for tech obsessed politics obsessed fans" due to its approach to covering the intersection of politics, internet culture, and technology.
• New York Times - Referenced as a traditional media outlet, and in the context of a "fair report" regarding David Sacks.
• Wall Street Journal - Mentioned alongside other traditional political publications.
• Washington Post - Referenced as a traditional political publication.
• Politico - Mentioned as a big political publication heavy hitter.
• The Hill - Listed among other major political publications.
• CQ Roll Call - An organization where McKenna Kelly interned, focusing on social media.
• FCC (Federal Communications Commission) - Mentioned in the context of the 2017 net neutrality revival under Ajit Pai.
• United States Digital Service - A federal agency focused on improving government services through technology, mentioned in the context of the DOJ takeover.
• IRS (Internal Revenue Service) - Mentioned in the context of data consolidation within government agencies.
• Social Security Administration - Mentioned in the context of data consolidation within government agencies.
• USAID - Referenced in the context of programs being cut during the DOJ story.
• Pentagon - Mentioned in the context of its press corps and bringing in right-wing creators for briefings.
• Northcom - Referenced in the context of Pentagon briefings for creators.
• Southcom - Referenced in the context of Pentagon briefings for creators.
• Turning Point (TPUSA) - An organization whose members are mentioned as attendees at Pentagon briefings and whose rallies were targeted by Fuentes supporters.

People Mentioned

• Dylan Byers - Host of The Grill Room podcast, mentioned by Julia Alexander.
• McKenna Kelly (Senior writer at Wired Magazine) - The guest of the episode, known for reporting on the intersection of politics, internet culture, and technology.
• Katie Drummond (Editor-in-chief of Wired Magazine) - Highlighted for her vision in shaping Wired's coverage, particularly regarding the "tech is politics" narrative.
• Elon Musk - Central figure in the "Doge" story, stepping in to lead the Department of Government Efficiencies within the Trump administration.
• Donald Trump - Referenced for his administration's interactions with the press, his use of Twitter, and his executive orders.
• Zohran Mamdani (Mayor of New York City) - Discussed as an example of a politician whose campaign was driven by social media authenticity and digital grassroots movements.
• Ajit Pai (Former FCC Chairman) - Mentioned in the context of the 2017 net neutrality debate.
• Taylor Lorenz - Mentioned as a reporter who tells stories of people using platforms.
• JFK (John F. Kennedy) - Referenced for his command of television as a new communication platform.
• FDR (Franklin D. Roosevelt) - Referenced for his command of radio as a new communication platform.
• Martin Luther - Referenced for his use of the printing press as a new communication platform.
• David Sacks (White House AI Czar, Co-host of All-In podcast) - Mentioned in the context of a New York Times report about potential conflicts of interest.
• Maggie Haberman - A reporter whose consistent byline is compared to McKenna's during intense coverage.
• Victoria Elliot (Wired colleague) - A colleague of McKenna's at Wired.
• David Gilbert (Wired colleague) - A colleague of McKenna's at Wired, described as a "best disinformation reporter."
• Nick Fuentes - A controversial figure discussed in the context of political clout and organized political factions.
• Azmin Gold (Twitch streamer, YouTuber) - Discussed as a non-political creator becoming more involved in politics, particularly through interactions with Elon Musk.
• Logan Paul - Mentioned as a non-political creator who interviewed a politician (Andrew Cuomo).
• Hassan Piker - A Twitch streamer mentioned in the context of political commentary.
• Benyamin Netanyahu - Mentioned as a politician interviewed by the Nelk Boys.
• Andrew Cuomo - Mentioned as a politician interviewed by Logan Paul.
• Mike (Logan Paul's co-host) - Mentioned in the interview with Andrew Cuomo.
• Gavin Newsom - Mentioned as a political figure trying to develop relationships with Twitch streamers.

Websites & Online Resources

• Wired.com - Referenced for McKenna's reporting on the "Doge" story.
• Blue Sky - A social media platform where McKenna posted her stories.
• X (formerly Twitter) - A social media platform where McKenna posted her stories, and also mentioned in the context of Elon Musk's takeover and Donald Trump's usage.
• Instagram - A social media platform where Cam Higby posted a picture.
• TikTok - A social media platform mentioned in the context of trained algorithms.
• YouTube - A social media platform mentioned in the context of "meandering YouTube drama" and political content.
• Twitch - A streaming platform mentioned in the context of Hassan Piker and Gavin Newsom's interest in streamers.
• Tumblr - A social media platform mentioned in the context of net neutrality activism.
• Facebook - Mentioned in the context of its height during the "pivot to video" era and moderation issues.
• 4chan - Mentioned as a platform associated with Nick Fuentes's early community.
• 8chan - Mentioned as a platform associated with Nick Fuentes's early community.

Other Resources

• Doge - Refers to the Department of Government Efficiencies, a federal initiative led by Elon Musk, which is a central topic of discussion.
• Net Neutrality - A policy debate mentioned as McKenna Kelly's "political tech awakening."
• Gamergate - An online harassment campaign mentioned as a precursor to the shift in power dynamics on the internet.
• AI (Artificial Intelligence) - Mentioned in the context of David Sacks's role and investments.
• The Bachelor - A TV show mentioned as a target for political ad placements.
• Survivor - A TV show mentioned as a target for political ad placements, with former contestants featured in Zohran Mamdani's campaign ads.
• Dream SMP - An online community formed around Minecraft content creators.
• Nelk Boys - Creators who interviewed Benjamin Netanyahu.
• Cumtown Boys - Creators mentioned as having a specific fandom.